Cooking and baking use fractions every day. You will see that recipes will have 1/4 cup, 1/2 cup, 2/3 cup, or 3/4 cup on them. Suppose that you are using a recipe that calls for 2/3 cup. And all you have is a 1/4 cup measuring cup. The question that we now have is: how many 1/4 cups equal 2/3 cups?
The short measure is about 2 and 2/3 of a 1/4 cup. Which is 2/3 cup.
You have two full 1/4 cups and more than two-thirds of a 1/4 cup. You can’t exactly measure more than two-thirds of a 1/4 cup with professional equipment, so you get to estimate close enough. Let’s do it.
Table of Contents
Fraction Cups
Imagine one cup is one whole pizza.
- Cut the pizza into 4. Each one is a 1/4 of pizza.
- Cut the pizza into 3. Each one is a 1/3 of pizza.
- Two pieces together would be 2/3 of pizza.
Now we have a problem: how many of those 1/4 slices will add up to 2/3 of pizza?
Doing the Math
The math isn’t so bad if you do it in fractions.
We have to figure out: 2/3 ÷ 1/4
Step 1: Leave 2/3 alone.
Step 2: Make 1/4 into 4/1 and multiply.
2/3 × 4/1 = 8/3
8/3 is 2 and 2/3.
So math is saying to have 2 and 2/3 scoops of 1/4 cup which is equal to 2/3 cup.
Step-By-Step in the Kitchen
If you need to have 2/3 cup but only have a 1/4 cup scoop:
- Fill the 1/4 cup once. Place it in your bowl.
- Fill 1/4 cup again. Pour it into your bowl. You now have 1/2 cup.
- Fill 1/4 cup roughly two-thirds full. Pour that in.
You now have 2/3 cups.
Isn’t going to be exact, but near enough for all but the most demanding recipes.
Why Accuracy Matters
Close enough tolerances are okay in the kitchen. A bit more water added to soup is okay. But not when you are baking. Baking is chemistry. The wet to dry ingredient ratio provides the texture.
- Too much flour makes bread dense.
- Too much sugar makes cookies too sweet.
- Too much liquid makes the batter soggy.
- Too little butter makes cakes dry and crumbly.
And this is why it is really worth taking the time to learn to measure 1/4 cups to 2/3 cups.
Examples in Everyday Cooking
Some examples of how this skill is applied in everyday cooking include:
- Cookies: Cookies require 2/3 cup sugar. You’ll be scooping two 1/4 cup scoops and two-thirds of a third 1/4 cup.
- Cake: Scoop 2/3 cup milk. You’ll have to do the same thing with your 1/4 cup scoop.
- Rice: Scoop 2/3 cup dry rice. Scoop two scoops of 1/4 and two-thirds.
- Pancakes: Two recipes require 2/3 cup water or milk. Scoop two 1/4 scoops and a bit more.
The more, the merrier.
Measuring in Tablespoons
Or use tablespoons if you don’t care to have it precise and are not lazy to estimate the two-thirds of a 1/4 cup.
- 1 cup = 16 tablespoons
- 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons
- 2/3 cup = 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
Then, if you have only a tablespoon and not just a tablespoon:
- Take 10 tablespoons.
- Add 2 more teaspoons.
That is 2/3 cup. Only the amount when you are baking.
Drilling With Water
It is simple to comprehend this with a water drill.
- Fill your 1/4 cup with some water. Pour water into the glass.
- Repeat it. Now you have 1/2 cup.
- Fill 2/3 and fill up the remainder of it using the 1/4 cup.
The glass has 2/3 cup of water.
Learning Fraction
Fractions can be taught easily to kids in the kitchen. Mathematics is boring on paper, but rice spoons or sugar spoons can be used to make mathematics fun.
Illustrate to kids:
- Two 1/4 cups = 1/2 cup
- Four 1/4 cups = 1 cup
- 2 and 2/3 of 1/4 cup = 2/3 cup
This makes maths a practical lesson.
People Make Mistakes Often
In finding 2/3 cup with 1/4 cups, people do the following mistakes:
- Two 1/4 cups, i.e., 1/2 cup. Not enough.
- Three 1/4 cups, i.e., 3/4 cup. Too much.
- Sweeping an estimate of the “extra” amount without being overly precise.
- Not scooping dry ingredients. Like flour or sugar level when filling.
As a precaution, bear in mind: 2 full 1/4 cups + approximately two-thirds of a third scoop = 2/3 cup.
Why Recipes Use 2/3 Cup
You may wonder why recipes never call for 1/2 cup or 3/4 cup. It’s all about proportion.
- 2/3 cup is greater than 1/2 cup but smaller than 3/4 cup.
- It likes to give just the right consistency to cakes, breads, cookies, or sauces.
- Recipe testers experiment with a tasty range of amounts and generally settle on 2/3 cup as perfect.
That’s why you’ll find it most frequently in recipes.
Quick Conversion Chart
Keep this chart with you in the kitchen while cooking:
- 1/4 cup = 4 tablespoons
- 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons
- 2/3 cup = 10 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons
- 3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons
- 1 cup = 16 tablespoons
You scoop off of this chart without scooping up all the scoop sizes.
What If You Need More Than 2/3 Cup
Sometimes a recipe will have you measure more than 2/3 cup. Just do it anyway with your 1/4 scoop.
- 1 cup = 4 scoops of 1/4 cup
- 1 1/2 cups = 6 scoops of 1/4 cup
- 2 cups = 8 scoops of 1/4 cup
- 2/3 cup = 2 and 2/3 scoops of 1/4 cup
Soon you’ll be noticing the pattern. Then you’ll be measuring anything.
Kitchen Tip
When scooping with a repeated 1/4 cup scoop, measure very carefully every time. Call out very loudly when scooping: “one, two, and two-thirds.” This prevents errors. Scrap the dry ingredients off with a knife so that each scoop is accurate.
FAQs
Can two different 1/4 cups be used?
No, that is 1/2 cup, short of nearly 2/3 cup.
Can I use three 1/4 cups?
That is 3/4 cup, bigger than 2/3 cup.
Is this trick simple for children to play?
Yes. Fractions are simple and fun to learn when baking.
Do you utilize 2/3 cup that is commonly used in recipes?
Yes. We use it a lot to bake as it’s such a wonderful dry-to-liquid ingredient ratio.
How many 1/4 cup do you scoop to get 2/3 cup? Two full scoops of 1/4 cup and more than one third scoop.
This kitchen tip is so simple. You can practice with water, butter, milk, rice, sugar, or flour. Do it a few times and you will not even give it a thought. You will simply scoop and know.
It will make cooking and baking easier once you have learned fractions like these. Whether you’re cooking soup, bread, pancakes, or cookies, being able to measure 2/3 cup when all you can measure with your scoop is a 1/4 scoop will be a time-saver every time.
